Vallas to keep job during appeal process

Linda Conner Lambeck

Updated 11:08 pm, Thursday, July 25, 2013

Paul Vallas addresses a rally supporting him at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at 790 Union Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Monday, July 1, 2013. Vallas will remain in charge of the city school system until the Connecticut Supreme Court acts on the appeal of his qualifications to hold office.

The ruling to reinstate a stay removed by the trial court came Thursday, just hours after the Supreme Court received an 11-page statement from Kevin Smith and Norman Pattis, attorneys representing those fighting to remove Vallas. The statement argued that Bridgeport would do just fine without Vallas.

District officials say the decision removes an uncertainty that has hung over the school system since a trial court ruled last month that Vallas not only was not legally qualified to hold the job of a schools superintendent in the state, but should leave the post immediately.

"It gives the district and Vallas time to open schools, and sends a message to parents that everything is moving forward," said Kenneth Moales Jr., chairman of the board.

Jacqueline Kelleher, the board's vice chair, said the decision affords the district the opportunity to maintain continuity as the new school year approaches.

"I am grateful we can maintain our leadership and our focus on improving outcomes for all students," she said. "We're 18 months into a five-year plan -- there's much to look forward to as we continue the implementation."

Vallas could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Steven D. Ecker, said his client was pleased.

Ecker said he, too, was pleased, but not surprised. He said that stays pending appeals of this nature are warranted.

"Now we can focus on the hearing," Ecker said. Oral arguments are expected the week of Sept. 16.

Smith, however, said he believed the trial court was correct on both the merits of the case against Vallas and on termination of the stay, "because it allows the school system and the city to move on and have what they deserve: a certified superintendent. We hope the court is moving as quickly as it is because it is going to affirm the decision of the trial court."

Vallas has been in charge of the district since late 2011 in an acting capacity. His qualifications were challenged when the board offered him a three-year contract this year. A state law was created to allow him to get an exemption of the required certification. But Carmen Lopez, a former Superior Court judge, sued, and Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ruled last month that the program Vallas took did not satisfy the law. Two weeks later, she ordered he leave office, pending appeal.

Both decisions were appealed directly to the Supreme Court, which agreed last week to hear the case. The motion for review granted by the court Thursday automatically reinstated the stay, according to a court spokeswoman.

It came hours after a statement filed by Smith and Pattis offered four reasons why Vallas should be sent packing right away. They argued that Vallas' chances for winning on appeal were slim, that neither the defendant nor district would be harmed by an immediate termination and that the district had a "strong management team" in place while a replacement is found. Conversely, Vallas' attorneys had argued in a motion filed with the court last week that terminating the stay would essentially end the matter because the chances of Vallas sticking around and waiting for the appeal to be decided were slim to none.

Commission of Education Stefan Pryor, who had a hand in bringing Vallas to Bridgeport and who granted the certificate waiver the trail judge ruled insufficient, said Thursday that he was pleased Vallas would be allowed to stay during the litigation period.

"This decision will provide stability for Bridgeport's students and schools until the Supreme Court renders its final judgment," Pryor said.

Assistant City Attorney Art Laske was also happy.

"This decision respects Mr. Vallas' rights and protects the interests of the school children during this appeal," Laske said.